The Finder is the default file manager used on Macs. It’s so integral to macOS, that it’s always open, and you can’t quit it via conventional methods. While you may not typically need to quit Finder, there are certain situations where it may be necessary, such as troubleshooting, or if Finder is acting up and you need to restart it. This post will guide you through the steps to quit Finder on your Mac.
Why Would You Want to Quit Finder?
You might wonder, “Why would I need to quit Finder?” Finder is an essential part of the macOS interface, providing access to files, folders, and drives. However, occasionally Finder may become unresponsive, or you might need to relaunch it when installing certain software. In most cases, simply relaunching Finder is enough to resolve minor glitches.
Steps to Quit Finder on Mac
As mentioned before, Finder does not have the conventional “Quit” option that other applications on Mac do. However, you can quit Finder through the Force Quit Applications menu or via Terminal commands:
Quit Finder using the Force Quit Applications menu:
- Press Command + Option + Esc on your keyboard to open the Force Quit Applications window.
- Select Finder.
- Click on the Relaunch button at the bottom right of the window.
Quit Finder using Terminal commands:
If you’re comfortable using Terminal, you can also use it to quit and relaunch Finder. Here is how you can do it:
- Open Terminal (you can find it in Utilities within your Applications folder).
- Type in the following command:
killall Finder
This command tells your system to stop all processes named “Finder”, effectively quitting Finder. Finder should automatically relaunch after quitting. If it doesn’t, you can manually relaunch it from the Force Quit Applications menu.
Conclusion
Quitting Finder on Mac is not a typical operation due to its integral role in macOS. However, knowing how to quit and relaunch Finder can be beneficial when troubleshooting minor glitches or during the installation of certain software.